Xabi Alonso responds to Real Madrid question after Carlo Ancelotti claims
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Xabi Alonso has brushed off speculation that he will become Real Madrid's next manager at the end of the season. The former Los Blancos midfielder, 41, has been heavily linked with a dream return to the Bernabeu over the last 12 months after impressing in his first senior managerial job with Bayer Leverkusen.
And talk of Alonso stepping up to take the top job at Real has only intensified in recent days amid speculation that Carlo Ancelotti is ready to walk away from the Spanish giants in the summer, with the Italian already seeking a new challenge abroad. But Alonso is keeping his cool in the wake of such talk and insists that his current job with Bayer Leverkusen remains his sole focus.
“Already questions on Real Madrid?! [laughs] Time goes by but the affection remains,” Alonso said in his press conference ahead of Leverkusen's meeting with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in midweek. “Our bond is very strong, that is clear but my total focus is on Bayer Leverkusen now, that’s in my mind.”.
“Real Madrid rumors? I’m calm,” the former Spain international added when he was questioned again by reporters. “I have enough things to worry about, it’s not on my mind right now.”. Both Alonso and Ancelotti have contracts tying them to their respective clubs until 2026. It's thought they are both, though, likely to leave their roles in the summer.
Join the debate! Would Alonso be a good appointment for Real Madrid? Let us know here. Ancelotti, who has been linked with the Brazil job for over a year, has enjoyed tremendous success since moving to the Bernabeu back in 2021 after a spell at Everton.
